The 2 Most Important Things To Know Before Purchasing A Body Kit

Because of such movies as “The Fast and Furious (2001)”, the Import Racing Scene has boomed and adopted many exterior modifications such as the car body kit. Body kits are usually made up of a front bumper, rear bumper, and side skirts; and depending on the kit may consist of front and rear fenders as well as additional add-ons. Many kits can increase the aerodynamics of your car while others can be used to give your car a stylish look.

There are many companies that sell body kits so how to do pick the right one? What do you look for when purchasing a body kit? This all depends on what you are looking for. No matter who you are the 2 most important things to know when purchasing a body kit are as follows:

1. Be aware of the material the body kit is made out of. The majority of body kits in the cheaper category will consist of fiberglass. This is usually just for looks and manufacturers will sell them while stating they are “Just for Show”. This is the majority of body kits being sold on eBay.

Body kits may be made of polyurethane or FRP composite. These materials are stronger than fiberglass but still flexible. Polyurethane does not withstand harsh weather as well as FRP. FRP handles paint better than polyurethane. Paint does not settle as well on the polyurethane material. Polyurethane is also harder to fix than FRP. These kits are usually a bit more money but can be purchased for similar prices as fiberglass if you find a good deal.

Carbon fiber is another alternative. These pieces are stylish and light weight. They can have the most unique look and are of high quality but are the most expensive. You will be paying as much as 3 times more money for these kits than FRP composite or polyurethane.

2. Know who you are purchasing from. There are different kinds of sellers on the internet. First, there are the manufactures. These companies will either import or create car body kits for resale. They usually will provide product to other sellers and may not sell to the public. If you purchase from them they will usually have it in stock; the waiting time to receive your kit is minimal but they are usually more expensive.

Next are the resellers/wholesalers. These sellers will drop ship or stock kits they get from the manufacturers. They work hard to choreograph the relationship between the customer and the manufacturer but may not have a kit in stock when you purchase it. Customer service is very important to these sellers. Be aware of certain resellers because some are agents who get their parts from resellers/wholesalers who will in turn get the parts from manufacturers. Because of this extra layer of passing the sale, kits are usually more expensive and can take up to 2 months for delivery.

So how do you know who is who? Contacting the seller before purchasing a kit is the best way. If a seller has a phone number call them or if they have an email address email them. If they do not respond to you within a couple of days move on. Ask how they are receiving the products and if they will guarantee fitment. Great sellers will always guarantee fitment. Also, if you are purchasing on eBay always buy from the seller with the best feedback.